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Love this take; I have a thing for misunderstood witches, and yours is a particularly fierce one. She did what she needed to do to protect herself. The word “slather” threw me – I think I know what you were getting at, but I’m not sure you found the word you were looking for. (As far as I know, slather is a verb, not a noun, but I’d love to be proved wrong!) Did you mean something along the lines of “spittle”?

Thanks! I love macabre fairytales and retold, twisted tales. Big fan of the hardest misunderstood baddie Malificent. Slather can be used as a noun, but its not common. It’s listed in online Merriam Webster as an option. Colloquial north American, only? I have heard it in my area from time to time. I think it sounds grosser than slobber…

I love this microprose! It immediately made an impression and stayed with me. I did have to read the first paragraph twice, as I initially thought it was from the men’s POV. Being (very) new to this form of writing I’m not sure how to advise, other than adding one or two words but I wouldn’t want to lose any of the others! I love this – and that you used “Grendel” instead of Gretel, too. Nice touch!

I really like that your retelling predated what we know of the Hansel and Gretel tale and explained it. It’s so in keeping with the violence of original fairytales. I absolutely love the way you’ve represented the injustice of her treatment at the hands of these men, and how they’ll go on to recast themselves as the innocents.